Dan Henderson Doesn’t Want To Wait For Jones-Evans Winner After All

It turns out Dan Henderson doesn’t want to wait to fight the Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans winner after all.

Dana White said last week that he did, but Hendo recently told ESPN he said no such thing.

“That was never what I said or anything. I don’t know who said that, but it wasn’t me. My thoughts were I was waiting to see what happened with Rashad [Evans] and Phil Davis. That was the only thing I was going to wait for.”

A fight with Bonnar is meh......if Hendo is ready, drop Bader from UFC Japan and have Hendo vs Rampage II in Japan in honor of Pride

lohmann

2/9/12 4:44:52PM

The question is not whether or not Henderson wants to fight, but whether or not he will accept any fight the Zuffa brass throws his way.

“Obviously you can’t guarantee that nobody gets hurt. I don’t know what the plan is, but I’d fight whoever it is they think would be a good match-up. The problem is there’s really nobody right now who fits the bill for a title contention fight, that would make sense to fight me. I don’t know. Maybe I’d fight at a different weight class. I don’t know if they see anybody at heavyweight that would make sense? But I would prefer to fight someone in April or May.”

Is there anybody on the roster that the UFC could argue to Henderson he needs to fight to stay at the top of the contenders' list before April or May? I really doubt it.

Bubbles

2/9/12 5:03:42PM

he is right though about the LHW title picture. Thiago Silva may be the next contender after Hendo after a couple wins. Phil Davis is still up there. Forrest Griffin is always 3 wins from title contention

if Big Nogs arm didnt break, I would love to see a rubber match between the two as a HW fight. other fights I can come up with at HW are guys like Mitrione, Herman/Struve winner, Griggs/Browne winner, but I doubt those have any name value to Hendo

I wont think about MW as Hendo doesnt want to make the cut unless its vs Anderson

Kpro

2/9/12 5:21:09PM

The only fight that'd make any sense at all, rather than waiting, would be a Hendo/Rampage rematch if Rampage gets by Bader. That's really it.

prophecy033

2/9/12 5:55:31PM

I say set up Henderson vs Machida for the #1 contender spot, winner gets winner of Jones/Evans

Kpro

2/9/12 5:59:54PM

Machida has lost 3 of 4, I don't doubt his skills at all, but he needs a warm-up fight, confidence booster if you want to call it that. Not a Dan Henderson. Hendo with a better than average shot of making it 4 of 5 losses for Machida would be detrimental to his career and I'd never let the fight happen if I was his agent. Just my opinion.

lohmann

2/9/12 6:06:56PM

Posted by Kpro

The only fight that'd make any sense at all, rather than waiting, would be a Hendo/Rampage rematch if Rampage gets by Bader. That's really it.

That seems to be the only fight for Henderson that makes sense at the moment with the possibility of a Shogun rematch notwithstanding. Either one would sell 600k or 700k pay-per-views.

The one caveat is that very few will be clamoring for a Rampage vs. Jones rematch if Rampage pulls off the win, and with the thinned ranks at light heavyweight the UFC might be forced to cobble together a lackluster title fight in their most star-studded division.

TheCatFather

2/9/12 6:19:16PM

Hendo needs to work his way up like the rest. Give him the Dragon or a fight with Davis first. He shouldn't just get a title shot.

Poor_Franklin

2/9/12 6:37:35PM

Hendo vs Gustafsson/LilNog winner?

lohmann

2/9/12 6:44:26PM

Posted by TheCatFather

Hendo needs to work his way up like the rest. Give him the Dragon or a fight with Davis first. He shouldn't just get a title shot.

Work his way up? Isn't he already at the top?

pmoney

2/9/12 8:46:03PM

Posted by Poor_Franklin

Hendo vs Gustafsson/LilNog winner?

Great idea, P_F!

That fight is happening right around the same time Jones-Evans is though, so if he were to wait for the winner of Nog-Mauler, he may as well wait for the title fight....

I have being campaigning for Hendo-Thiago Silva, but with Pokrajac (spelling?) getting Thiago, I guess that option is out. Silva is a step down from Shogun as well, so I guess that fight doesn't make a whole lot of sense...

Are the pickins' really this slim at LHW these days, or is it just the time frame/contender factor coming in to play?

Bubbles

2/9/12 9:15:48PM

Posted by pmoney

Are the pickins' really this slim at LHW these days, or is it just the time frame/contender factor coming in to play?

Rampage is fighting Bader in a couple weeksHendo just beat ShogunMachida needs to string some wins together to get back to the topLil Nog/Gustafsson are tied upForrest probably fighting OrtizThiago Silva is no where near the top atm after a year suspension

Phil Davis is probably the only realistic option. Rampage/Bader winner could also be possible

Pookie

2/9/12 9:59:10PM

If i was Machida i'd take a Dan Henderson match. I think he would easily take it.

lohmann

2/10/12 1:06:14AM

Posted by Pookie

If i was Machida i'd take a Dan Henderson match. I think he would easily take it.

Coincidentally, Pookie rarely picks Dan Henderson to win because he hates his guts.

Also of note, Pookie has a bad record when it comes to fights Dan Henderson is in.